What’s New Can Feel Old

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Jaimie Belew infuses a new home with historic, multi-generational charm

In the entry, the Felix terracotta planters are from Sutherland, the Georgian porch lantern is by Vaughan – Georgian Porch Lantern.
Photos by John Merkl.

There is a particular kind of magic in a home that feels like it has always been there—even when it hasn’t. That was the challenge and the win for Bay Area designer Jaimie Belew when hired to design this 3,500-square-foot custom residence in Los Altos Hills. “My philosophy is that a home should tell the story of the people who live there—not the story of the designer and my role is to uncover my clients’ vision, interpret their lifestyle, and bring their narrative to life through thoughtfully curated interiors that feel timeless, layered, and deeply personal,” Belew says. “This Los Altos Hills residence was a beautiful example of that process, The guiding principle became creating a newly built home that felt as though it had evolved naturally over generations.”

In the living room, a custom sectional fabric is covered in Bon Bon in Blueberry by Glant. The vintage ottomans are covered in Prima Alpaca Casa in Mirage by Sandra Jordan. The Stonehenge coffee table is from Formations. Photos by John Merkl.
The kitchen features hanging pendants by Obsolete. The Mesa swivel counter stools are by Powell and Bonnell, and the Petrol Enamel sink is vintage. Photos by John Merkl.

The client arrived with one direction—farmhouse. She had been gathering images, building mood boards, and a vision. But as Jaimie dug deeper into those references, she discovered that the goal wasn’t really to build a shabby chic farmhouse, rather it was something richer with more charm. “What she was truly drawn to was the warmth and authenticity of an old European country home, thoughtfully reimagined through a modern lens,” Belew notes. “She envisioned a home that balanced old-world character with contemporary living—layered with understated sophistication, collected history, and quiet luxury—while remaining welcoming for family, her beloved pets and her passion for the equestrian lifestyle.”

In the dining room, the Birch Lane Wicker Chairs are covered in fabric by Rose Tarlow. The dining table circa 1880 is from Obsolete as is the Brass & Opaline Counterbalance Lamp, Italy 21st Century light fixture. Photos by John Merkl.
Belew designed a custom limestone sink for the powder room. The mirror is Gubi-style.
Photos by John Merkl.
The mudroom features custom decorative wall finishing by Linda Horning, the flush mount light fixture is by Visual Comfort. The bench is covered in a fabric from Holland and Sherry. Photos by John Merkl.

Being it was a ground-up build led by Architecture Allure, the hardest problem wasn’t structural, it was making new 3,500-square-foot home feel inherited. The team collaborated to devise a narrative between the exterior and interior architectural detailing that her team shaped. “Our design house carefully developed the proportions and placement of the arched openings throughout the home, studying scale, rhythm and sight lines to ensure each arch felt naturally integrated into the architecture,” she details. “Material selection was equally important. The custom oak cabinetry throughout the home was wire-brushed to create texture and character while maintaining a natural, rustic appearance. This same oak detailing continues into the dining room ceiling and beams, creating warmth without overwhelming the interiors.”

Photos by John Merkl.
The primary bedroom vestibule features an antique bench found at Galerie Half. Photos by John Merkl.

Against all that grain and texture, the team spent significant time achieving a precise cream tone of the plaster walls, so they could recede into a quiet, sun-warmed backdrop for everything else in the room to shine against.

In the bedroom area, the upholstered bed frame is covered in Pamina in Grecian Clay fabric by Rose Tarlow. The bench at foot of the bed is covered in Gregorius Pineo. Photos by John Merkl.
The expansive primary bathroom features tile found at DaVinci Marble. The soaking tub is Stone Forest’s Old World Bathtub in Papiro Cream Marble. The Anders Pendant was found at The Future Perfect. Photos by John Merkl.
In the beautiful dressing room, the hanging Opaline pendants are from Obsolete. Photos by John Merkl.

The reclaimed hardwood floors, hand-finished limestone, wire-brushed oak, soft plaster and the handcrafted Moroccan zellige tile placed throughout, is what grounds each room in antiquity. “Every decision was made to create the feeling that this home had been lovingly collected, expanded, and refined over generations rather than recently constructed,” she says. “The home’s materials were chosen not only for their beauty, but for how they would age and evolve with the family.”

Belew designed custom bunks for the Boys’ room. The rug is from Woven. Photos by John Merkl.
In the boys’ bathroom, the Moroccan Zellige & Bejmat Tile was found at DaVinci Marble. Photos by John Merkl.
In the office, a vintage Hermes Lamp found at Paris Flea Market sheds light on a Gregorious Pineo wallpaper. The vintage salvage doors are faux finished by Linda Horning. Photos by John Merkl.

For most interior designers there’s no better compliment than hearing a client proclaim their love with a space that started as a shared vision on a mood board. For Jaimie, that moment occurred when her client conveyed she didn’t just like the finished home, she felt it. “Seeing her emotional connection to the finished spaces reinforced exactly why I love what I do. The mission at Maison Jaimie Belew Interior Design is to create homes that tell our clients’ stories, and this project is a beautiful example of that philosophy brought to life. The collaboration between the interior design, architecture and landscape design by Studio Green resulted in a home where every element feels seamlessly connected.”

In the guesthouse, the Douglas sofa is by Lawson-Fenning, the fabric is by Scalamandre. The armchair is vintage and the Edmund bed is from Lawson-Fenning. Photos by John Merkl.